काले मरणधर्मास्ते सन्देहः कोऽत्र ते नृप । परोपदेशे विस्पष्टं शिष्टाः सर्वे भवन्ति च
They are subject to death in time; what doubt is there in this, O king? All become clear when instructing others.
विप्लुतिर्ह्यविशेषेण स्वकार्ये समुपस्थिते । कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभद्रोहाहङ्कारमत्सराः
When one’s own task arises, confusion comes indiscriminately; desire, anger, greed, hostility, pride, and envy.
देहवान्कः परित्यक्तुमीशो भवति तान्पुनः । संसारोऽयं महाराज सदैवैवंविधः स्मृतः
Who, having a body, is able to abandon them again? This cycle of existence, O great king, is always remembered as such.
नान्यथा प्रभवत्येव शुभाशुभमयः किल । कदाचिद्भगवान्विष्णुस्तपश्चरति दारुणम्
It never operates otherwise, being indeed full of good and evil; sometimes Lord Viṣṇu performs severe austerities.
कदाचिद्विविधान्यज्ञान्वितनोति सुराधिपः । कदाचित्तु रमारङ्गरञ्जितः परमेश्वरः
Sometimes the lord of the gods conducts various sacrifices; sometimes the supreme lord, delighted by the play of Lakṣmī, enjoys.
रमते किल वैकुण्ठे तद्वशस्तरुणो विभुः । कदाचिद्दानवैः सार्धं युद्धं परमदारुणम्
He truly delights in Vaikuṇṭha, the youthful sovereign under her sway; sometimes he engages in fierce battle with the demons.
करोति करुणासिन्धुस्तद्बाणापीडितो भृशम् । कदाचिज्जयमाप्नोति दैवात्सोऽपि पराजयम्
The ocean of compassion acts, greatly afflicted by their arrows; sometimes he attains victory by fate, sometimes defeat.
सुखदुःखाभिभूतोऽसौ भवत्येव न संशयः । शेषे शेते कदाचिद्वै योगनिद्रासमावृतः
He is overcome by happiness and sorrow, there is no doubt; sometimes he lies in rest, enveloped in yogic sleep.
काले जागर्ति विश्वात्मा स्वभावप्रतिबोधितः । शर्वो ब्रह्मा हरिश्चेति इन्द्राद्या ये सुरास्तथा
At the proper time, the soul of the universe awakens, stirred by its own nature; Śarva, Brahmā, Hari, and likewise Indra and the other gods.
मुनयश्च विनिर्माणैः स्वायुषो विचरन्ति हि । निशावसाने सञ्जाते जगत्स्थावरजङ्गमम्
And the sages, through their creations, move about for their allotted lifespans; when night ends, the world of moving and unmoving beings arises.
म्रियते नात्र सन्देहो नृप किञ्चित्कदापि च । स्वायुषोऽन्ते पद्यजाद्याः क्षयमृच्छन्ति पार्थिव
There is no doubt at all, O King, that at the end of one's allotted lifespan, those born from the lotus and others meet their destruction.
प्रभवन्ति पुनर्विष्णुहरशक्रादयः सुराः । तस्मात्कामादिकान्भावान्देहवान्प्रतिपद्यते
Again, Viṣṇu, Hara, Śakra, and other gods arise; therefore, one possessing a body acquires states such as desire and the rest.
नात्र ते विस्मयः कार्यः कदाचिदपि पार्थिव । संसारोऽयं तु सन्दिग्धः कामक्रोधादिभिर्नृप
You should never be astonished at this, O King; this cycle of existence is indeed uncertain, beset by desire, anger, and the like.
दुर्लभस्तद्विनिर्मुक्तः पुरुषः परमार्थवित् । यो बिभेतीह संसारे स दारान्न करोत्यपि
Rare is the person freed from these who knows the highest truth; he who fears this cycle of existence does not even take a wife.
विमुक्तः सर्वसङ्गेभ्यो विचरत्यविशङ्कितः । तस्माद्बृहस्पतेर्भार्या शशिना लम्भिता पुनः
Freed from all attachments, he wanders without anxiety; thus, Bṛhaspati's wife was again seized by the moon.
गुरूणा लम्भिता भार्या तथा भ्रातुर्यवीयसः । एवं संसारचक्रेऽस्मिन् रागलोभादिभिर्वृतः
The wife of the guru was seized, as was the wife of the younger brother; thus, in this wheel of existence, one is enveloped by passion, greed, and the like.
गार्हस्थ्यञ्च समास्थाय कथं मुक्तो भवेन्नरः । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन हित्वा संसारसारताम्
How can a man become liberated while embracing household life? Therefore, by every effort, one should abandon the essence of worldly existence.
आराधयेन्महेशानीं सच्चिदानन्दरूपिणीम् । तन्मायागुणतश्छन्नं जगदेतच्चराचरम्
He should worship Maheśānī, whose form is existence, consciousness, and bliss; this entire world, moving and unmoving, is concealed by her māyā and qualities.
भ्रमत्युन्मत्तवत्सर्वं मदिरामत्तवन्नृप । तस्या आराधनेनैव गुणान्सर्वान्विमृद्य च
All wander like madmen, O King, as if intoxicated by wine; by worshipping her alone, one overcomes all qualities.
मुक्तिं भजेत मतिमान्नान्यः पन्थास्त्वितः परः । आराधिता महेशानी न यावत्कुरुते कृपाम्
The wise attains liberation; there is no other path beyond this. Until Maheśānī is worshipped and grants her compassion,
तावद्भवेत्सुखं कस्मात्कोऽन्योऽस्ति दयया युतः । करुणासागरामेतां भजेत्तस्मादमायया
So long, happiness remains—why? Who else is endowed with mercy? Therefore, one should worship this ocean of compassion with sincerity.
यस्यास्तु भजनेनैव जीवन्मुक्तत्वमश्नुते । मानुष्यं दुर्लभं प्राप्य सेविता न महेश्वरी
By worshipping her alone, one attains liberation while living. Having obtained rare human birth, if Maheśvarī is not served,
निःश्रेणिकाग्रात्पतिता अध इत्येव विद्महे । अहङ्कारावृतं विश्वं गुणत्रयसमन्वितम्
One falls from the summit of the ladder, downward—so we know; the universe is enveloped by ego and endowed with the three qualities.
असत्येनापि सम्बद्धं मुच्यते कथमन्यथा । हित्वा सर्वं ततः सर्वेः संसेव्या भुवनेश्वरी
Even bound by untruth, how else can one be freed? Therefore, having abandoned everything, one should serve the Lady of the World.
राजोवाच किं कृतं गुरूणा तत्र काव्यरूपधरेण च । कदा शुक्रः समायातस्तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह
The king said: What did the guru do there, taking the form of Kāvyā? When did Śukra arrive? Tell me this, O Grandfather.
व्यास उवाच शृणु राजन् प्रवक्ष्यामि यत्कृतं गुरुणा तदा । कृत्वा काव्यस्वरूपञ्च प्रच्छन्नेन महात्मना
Vyāsa said: Listen, O King, I will tell you what the guru did then, having assumed the form and voice of Kāvyā, concealed by the great soul.
गुरुणा बोधिता दैत्या मत्वा काव्यं स्वकं गुरुम् । विश्वासं परमं कृत्वा बभूवुस्तन्मयास्तदा
The demons, instructed by the guru, thinking Kāvyā to be their own teacher, placed utmost trust and became like him at that time.
विद्यार्थं शरणं प्राप्ता भृगुं मत्वातिमोहिताः । गुरुणा विप्रलब्धास्ते लोभात्को वा न मुह्यति
Seeking knowledge, they approached Bhṛgu for refuge, utterly deluded; deceived by the guru out of greed—who is not bewildered by greed?
दशवर्षात्मके काले सम्पूर्णसमये तदा । जयन्त्या सह क्रीडित्वा काव्यो याज्यानचिन्तयत्
When the full period of ten years had passed, Kāvya, after sporting with Jayantī, began to think of the sacrificers.
आशया मम मार्गं ते पश्यन्तः संस्थिताः किल । गत्वा तान्वै प्रपश्येऽहं याज्यानतिभयातुरान्
With the hope that they might be waiting for me, surely watching my path, I will go and see those sacrificers, who are greatly troubled by fear.